Neuroscience of Implicit Bias Conference: Society, Systems, and Synapses
The Centers of LSTC are coming together to explore the neuroscience of implicit bias, address how it impacts various areas of our lives, and give practical examples of how we might overcome this bias in our personal and congregational lives. We’ll explore theological perspectives on implicit bias that lead us all to deeper self-examination and in our engagement with ‘others’ (racial, religious, ethnic, gender, sexuality, ability, class, etc.)
This event is scheduled for Thursday, October 13 starting at 8:30am central time. It will be held in person on LSTC’s campus and offered via Zoom.
Thursday, October 13
- 8:30am – Opening Session
- 9:30am – “Interfaith Promises of Breaking Bias” with Anu Gupta
Anu Gupta is a scientist, educator, lawyer, and the Founder of BE MORE with Anu, an ed-tech company that trains organizations in breaking bias to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. He has brought BE MORE’s science-backed, compassion-based approach to over 300 organizations like the American Medical Organization, PBS, and FDNY reaching over 50,000 professionals impacting over 25 million lives. He has spoken at TED, SxSW, and the Oprah Conversation, and has been featured in Fast Company, Newsweek, and Harvard Business Review. Learn more: bemorewithanu.com and @bemorewithanu. - 11:15am – Chapel service
- 12:00pm – Lunch included for those attending in person
- 1:30pm – “The Neural Basis of Bias and the Biological Consequences of Prejudice” with Dr. Sade Spencer
Dr. Sade Spencer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Spencer received her B.S. degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa in Biology in 2006. She received her Ph.D. degree in the Neuroscience Graduate Program from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas in the laboratory of Dr. Colleen A. McClung. Her postdoctoral training was in the laboratory of Dr. Peter W. Kalivas at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Spencer was recruited to the University of Minnesota as part of the Medical Discovery Team on Addiction. - 2:15pm – “The Neuroscience of Implicit Bias – What you don’t know, can hurt you” with Dr. Tanea ReedTanea Reed completed her undergraduate studies at Virginia Tech and was then chosen as a Virginia Governor’s Fellow. She worked at the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Consolidated Laboratory Services performing DNA fingerprinting on food outbreak investigations. Dr. Reed then entered the chemistry graduate program at the University of Kentucky in the Fall of 2003. At UK, she focused on biological chemistry under the guidance of Dr. D. Allan Butterfield by investigating oxidative stress in brain in mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer’s disease: their implications for the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. After matriculating from UK, she began her teaching career as an adjunct professor at Berea College in 2008. She began teaching at Eastern Kentucky University in 2008. In 2010, she was awarded the Hermann Esterbauer award for young investigators for research in the field of lipid peroxidation, where she presented her research in Turin, Italy. In 2013, she was awarded an academic enrichment research award from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Reed is committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists and faculty. She is currently the Chair and Professor of Biochemistry for the Department of Chemistry at Eastern Kentucky University, where she focuses her research efforts on traumatic brain injury post therapeutic strategies.
- 3:30pm – Panel Discussion with Reed, Spencer, Dr. Scott Alexander – Catholic Theological Union, and Dr. Candace Kohli – LSTC. Moderated by Dr. Linda Thomas, LSTC.
Dr. Sade Spencer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology. Dr. Spencer received her B.S. degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa in Biology in 2006. She received her Ph.D. degree in the Neuroscience Graduate Program from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas in the laboratory of Dr. Colleen A. McClung. Her postdoctoral training was in the laboratory of Dr. Peter W. Kalivas at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Spencer was recruited to the University of Minnesota as part of the Medical Discovery Team on Addiction.
Tanea Reed completed her undergraduate studies at Virginia Tech and was then chosen as a Virginia Governor’s Fellow. She worked at the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Consolidated Laboratory Services performing DNA fingerprinting on food outbreak investigations. Dr. Reed then entered the chemistry graduate program at the University of Kentucky in the Fall of 2003. At UK, she focused on biological chemistry under the guidance of Dr. D. Allan Butterfield by investigating oxidative stress in brain in mild cognitive impairment and early Alzheimer’s disease: their implications for the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. After matriculating from UK, she began her teaching career as an adjunct professor at Berea College in 2008. She began teaching at Eastern Kentucky University in 2008. In 2010, she was awarded the Hermann Esterbauer award for young investigators for research in the field of lipid peroxidation, where she presented her research in Turin, Italy. In 2013, she was awarded an academic enrichment research award from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Reed is committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists and faculty. She is currently the Chair and Professor of Biochemistry for the Department of Chemistry at Eastern Kentucky University, where she focuses her research efforts on traumatic brain injury post therapeutic strategies.